Effects of acceptance and reappraisal on body dissatisfaction: an experimental comparison of two adaptive emotion regulation strategies.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, research has increasingly focused on body dissatisfaction, which is associated with numerous negative psychological and physical health consequences and, more importantly, with the development and maintenance of eating pathology.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we focused on the effect of two adaptive emotion regulation strategies (acceptance and reappraisal) on body dissatisfaction compared to a control group, and pre- and post-induction of body dissatisfaction.

METHODS: A total of 105 women [mean age (M) = 22.07; standard deviation (SD) = 6.11] were randomly assigned to one of the two emotion regulation conditions: acceptance (n = 35) and reappraisal (n = 35) or to a control group (n = 35). Participants were instructed accordingly with the condition that was assigned (acceptance or reappraisal). Participants were then induced body dissatisfaction by exposure to images representing the female thin-ideal and were asked to respond to their body-related feelings according to the instructions. Outcomes assessed were body dissatisfaction, and positive and negative affect.

RESULTS: Results indicated a significant increase of body satisfaction in the acceptance and reappraisal conditions from pre- to post-induction of body dissatisfaction, compared to control group which suffered a significant decrease in body satisfaction. Moreover, in the control group, positive affect significantly decreased and negative affect increased from pre- to post-induction, and did not change significantly, neither in the acceptance nor in the reappraisal condition.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the positive effects of acceptance and reappraisal as emotion regulation strategies on body dissatisfaction and on positive and negative affect.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Experimental study, Level 1.